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Topic: Bogochelovechestvo/God-manhood (Read 6106 times)

I was listening to Fr. Tom Hopko's "Speaking the Truth in Love" on Ancient Faith Radio last night. I am pretty sure it was the episode "Bishops, pt. 13: St. Maximus and the 7th century." If I understood Fr. Tom correctly, he was saying that idea of Bogochelovechestvo or God-manhood is actually not proper Christian teaching. I think his objection had something to do with denying the full humanity and full divinity of Christ.

Now, this confused me because I've seen this idea discussed approvingly before--I believe it was in an essay by Fr. Alexander Men where he was discussing Vladimir Solovyov. My impression from reading Fr. Men's essay was that Solovyov's writings on this topic had been judged acceptable and/or good.

Can anyone help as to official Orthodox doctrine on this matter and/or potential objections?

While I haven't listened to Fr Thomas' podcast, I can say that God-Man/Theanthropos/Bog y Chelovek is not only an essential Christological teaching, but the term is also found frequently in Orthodox hymns and prayers. Lex orandi, lex credendi.

Regarding Soloviev and Fr Alexander Men, be aware that a fair proportion of their writings are not regarded as representative of accepted Orthodox thought and teaching.

I will try to go back and find the clip again. If I can get a timestamp on it, I will let you guys know. Because for me, I was caught totally offguard--I thought Bogochelovek was simply a nifty way of naming the hypostatic union of Christ.

LBK, I did notice that when I first met my priest and mentioned I was reading a book by Fr. Alexander, he sort of recoiled and told me he wouldn't recommend any of his books to anyone.

Ok, the build-up begins around 11:30. At around 13:29, Fr. Tom says, "There is no such thing as God-manhood." He then goes on to put Bulgakov and Solvyov against a number of patristic scholars including Frs. Justin Popovic, Georges Florovsky, and Vladimir Lossky who, he says, teach that there can be a God-man (Christ) but no God-manhood. It seems that Fr. Tom's argument is that God and man have separate natures and that there can't be any mingling into one new nature. The larger point he is trying to make is about St. Maximus the Confessor's refutation of the theandric heresy.

I suppose I should have relistened to it before starting this thread, but I only just got home and was able to readily fast forward and rewind. It's interesting that such a seemingly small distinction is so meaningful. So the person the God-man is supportable but the nature of God-manhood is not. As usual, Fr. Tom has taught me something and kept me from falsehood

I suppose I should have relistened to it before starting this thread, but I only just got home and was able to readily fast forward and rewind. It's interesting that such a seemingly small distinction is so meaningful. So the person the God-man is supportable but the nature of God-manhood is not. As usual, Fr. Tom has taught me something and kept me from falsehood

I wonder if this "God-manhood" is akin to the divine flesh idea I've heard attributed to some Pentecostals.

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He then goes on to put Bulgakov and Solvyov against a number of patristic scholars including Frs. Justin Popovic, Georges Florovsky, and Vladimir Lossky

Oh goodness, I'm sorry--I left out the Fr. for Fr. Bulgakov. Well, Fr. Tom did not refer to him as Fr., haha. If you're asking how he called Fr. Bulgakov and Solovyov, he just called them both by their last names.

Not a problem.

And yes I was curious if he referred to him as Fr. or not - too many people intentionally, and inappropriately, leave out his title in response to his theology, although Fr. Tom himself may not have meant it in such a way.

I was listening to Fr. Tom Hopko's "Speaking the Truth in Love" on Ancient Faith Radio last night. I am pretty sure it was the episode "Bishops, pt. 13: St. Maximus and the 7th century." If I understood Fr. Tom correctly, he was saying that idea of Bogochelovechestvo or God-manhood is actually not proper Christian teaching. I think his objection had something to do with denying the full humanity and full divinity of Christ.

Can anyone help as to official Orthodox doctrine on this matter and/or potential objections?

Fr. Hopko has spoken on this before in the context of Monophysitism.

His point is that there is Godhood (the Divine Essence) and manhood (the Human Essence) but there is no Godmanhood (divino-human essence). There is certainly the God-Man, though.

If there were a Divino-Human essence, then the properties of the Divinity would inhibit the properties of the Humanity. For an example of this happening, look into the beliefs of the Monophysite Heretic Julian of Halicarnassus, who believed that Christ's flesh was impassible prior to the Resurrection, and could only be damaged if he actively willed the nails to go into his hands, etc. He believed this because he thought that the properties of Christ's humanity (like passibility) were inhibited by virtue of the union with His Divinity.

Rum Orthodox Christians who hold to Chalcedon and Constantinople III believe that the properties and powers of both humanity and divinity are preserved authentic and whole by the one Hypostasis/Subsistent Being of Christ/the Logos.

« Last Edit: November 17, 2012, 01:51:41 AM by NicholasMyra »

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Quote from: Fr. Thomas Hopko, dystopian parable of the prodigal son

...you can imagine so-called healing services of the pigpen. The books that could be written, you know: Life in the Pigpen. How to Cope in the Pigpen. Being Happy in the Pigpen. Surviving in the Pigpen. And then there could be counselling, for people who feel unhappy in the pigpen, to try to get them to come to terms with the pigpen, and to accept the pigpen.

Rum Orthodox Christians who hold to Chalcedon and Constantinople III believe that the properties and powers of both humanity and divinity are preserved authentic and whole by the one Hypostasis/Subsistent Being of Christ/the Logos.

Rum Orthodox Christians who hold to Chalcedon and Constantinople III believe that the properties and powers of both humanity and divinity are preserved authentic and whole by the one Hypostasis/Subsistent Being of Christ/the Logos.

...you can imagine so-called healing services of the pigpen. The books that could be written, you know: Life in the Pigpen. How to Cope in the Pigpen. Being Happy in the Pigpen. Surviving in the Pigpen. And then there could be counselling, for people who feel unhappy in the pigpen, to try to get them to come to terms with the pigpen, and to accept the pigpen.

Velarization of /l/ is common in many varieties of English. Not all dialects have it, but it is common enough that I'm a little surprised that you would insist that it is not present, Michal. Are you surrounded by Irish English speakers?

I've never heard it in English. In Belarusia and Russian only (and in old Polish movies or recordings).

Michal or someone who speaks Russian, can you answer my question above?

I suppose the reason is in what nature was the first one (or is the dominant one). Bogochełovek would imply that the original / first / major nature is the godlike however for Chełovekobog the human nature is first / dominant / original since it's mentioned in the first place.

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who can watch the watchmen?"No one is paying attention to your post reports"Why do posters that claim to have me blocked keep sending me pms and responding to my posts? That makes no sense.

I suppose the reason is in what nature was the first one (or is the dominant one). Bogochełovek would imply that the original / first / major nature is the godlike however for Chełovekobog the human nature is first / dominant / original since it's mentioned in the first place.

But that's just a guess.

All I know is the Bog is God. And I could be wrong about that. I know zilch about this stuff.

However what I was reading was quite interesting and the author wasn't translating either word into English.

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who can watch the watchmen?"No one is paying attention to your post reports"Why do posters that claim to have me blocked keep sending me pms and responding to my posts? That makes no sense.

I suppose the reason is in what nature was the first one (or is the dominant one). Bogochełovek would imply that the original / first / major nature is the godlike however for Chełovekobog the human nature is first / dominant / original since it's mentioned in the first place.

But that's just a guess.

doesn`t EO/RC Christology assert that the divinity is dominant, i.e united in one Divine Hypostasis?

do the OOs believe in the mixing of the natures of Christ?

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Every formula of every religion has in this age of reason, to submit to the acid test of reason and universal assent.Mahatma Gandhi